Gate latch



Dec.- 19, 1933. c. CAMPBELL 1,939,954

GATE LATCH Filed Aug. 10, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES GATE LATCH Calvin Campbell, Denver, 0010., assignor to The Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, Denver,

Application August 10, 1931. Serial No. 556,130

1 Claim.

My invention relates to gate latches. An important object of the invention is the provision of means to adapt same to gates of different sizes.

A further object is to provide simple, practical and effective means for locking one or more gate latches.

Still other objects reside in details of construction and in novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will appear in thecourse of the following description.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the latch in a. different position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a modified construction.

Figure 4 is an elevation of a detail comprised in the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference character 5 designates a stationary post of a fence. It is also to be understood in the embodiment now about to be described and claimed that this post may be an upright member on an adjacent gate. Clamped to the post is an upright rod 6, to which the fencing is fastened, or the rod may be passed through the mesh of same.

A frame for a gate is indicated generally by the numeral 7. An upright rod 8, held within this frame by a clamp 27, is passed through mesh of fencing 9 for holding same.

Clamping collars 10 around the gate post support chairs or sets 11, notched as best shown at 12 in Figure 4. Inclined faces 13 lead up to the edge of the notch 12.

Mounted on the gate frame by means of clamps 14 are keepers 15, viz., members providing vertically extending guideways for bars 16 and which keepers or members 15 are sometimes hereinreferred to as guide elements. Vertically movable through or along the keepers are the bars 16 sometimes herein referredto as the bars of the latch elements. The bars 16 have apertured lugs 18 on opposite sides thereof, which register with oppositely disposed apertured lugs 17 on the keepers. When the lugs are together, they may be padlocked together, or locked together by other suitable means. The lug 17 limits downward movement of the bar 16 and its associated latch, by being in the path of the lug 18. In short, the keepers or members 15 provide not only guides or guideways but also serve as stops for limiting downward vertical movement of the latch element. A split collar or member 26 in effect provides a mounting for the latch and slides on and along the bar 16 and it engages the upper clamp member 27 whereby the upward movement of the latch element is limited by the upper clamp 27 serving as a stop. The latch bar or latch element is free for vertical movement within these limits. The bars carry latches 19 that engage the notches 12 of the chairs 11, when locking the gate.

The bars 16 have offset ends 25 fastened together by a connecting member 20. Bolts 21 removably fasten the member to the bars. When it is desired to adapt the present gate latch to gates of different sizes, the member 20 is changed for one of the right size. The offset ends provide spaces between same and the gate frame 7 for nuts (not shown) on the bolts 21. Handles 22 are slidably mounted on the member 20 by set screws 23.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 3, the lower assembly is omitted, and the handle 22 is mounted directly on the bar 16.

In the use of the invention, the upper and lower latches 19 travel up the inclined surfaces 13, while the gate is being closed, and drop into the notches 12 by gravity. The lugs of the bars are then resting on the respective lugs on the keepers, in which position they may be conveniently locked together on either side of the gate.

Upon removing the padlock, the gate may be opened, after raising the handles, to disengage the latches from their respective notches.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an article of manufacture constructed for application to an upright member of-a fence, said article comprising a latch element, socket members each provided with clamping means for attachment to said upright member and whereby said socket members can be vertically positioned towards and from each other and within which socket members spaced portions of the latch element are slidably mounted, said latch element being normally supported by one or both of said members, a fabric holding bar for paralleling when in position said upright member, and clamping members adapted to be positioned along said upright member of the fence and for clamping said 7 rod to said upright member of the fence, at least CALVIN CAMPBELL. 

